Cork, A Beautiful and Sustainable Approach to Flooring

22Feb

Cork flooring was popular in the late 19th century and has been used ever since. There are many reasons cork continues to be popular to this day. It is insulating and durable if properly installed and cared for. Cork flooring provides cushioning while standing, is hypoallergenic, and has natural anti-mold and insecticide properties. It is also fire resistant and provides sound proofing. Another reason for its popularity is that cork is a very sustainable product.

Cork can be easily repaired. Small sections of floors can be repaired rather than having to tear out the whole flooring, provided the same color and textures are available. For small dents or holes, cork can be ground up, mixed with glue and patched. Since there are many colors and textures available, this floor works well in a traditional or contemporary setting. Even though cork is moisture resistant, it is not recommended for bathrooms unless the product is specially made for this application. If properly sealed, it is a good application for kitchens and laundry rooms however. We used cork flooring in our showroom so people can explore this flooring option for their own home. We invite you to come and visit our showroom to see this flooring for yourself.

interesting patterns (corkfloor.com)

www.lbcfloors.com/cork

cork flooring in a contemporary setting (corkfloor.com)

Since cork is shipped from other countries, there is more of a fossil fuel transportation expense than a domestic product such as fir. But it is renewable, natural, and beautiful. The bark is harvested from the tree without killing it, but it takes about 20 years before it can be harvested for the first time. It will take about 9 more years for the next harvest. Most cork flooring is also a recycled product that is derived from the waste of the cork wine stopper manufacturing process.